uka Saso of the Philippines hits her second shot on the 10th hole during the first round of the Marathon LPGA Classic presented by Dana at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio on July 08, 2021 in Sylvania, Ohio. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino ace Yuka Saso is among the Filipino bets already in the Japanese capital for the upcoming Olympics and has opted to stay in a hotel near the golf venue.
Saso, the US Women’s Open champion, is one of three Filipino golfers who qualified for the Games.
“Yuka arrived on Monday and she is staying at the Okura Hotel with her father-coach Masakazu, as well as her coaching team,” Team Philippines Chef de Mission Mariano “Nonong” Araneta said on Tuesday.
Golf events will be held at The Kasumigaseki Country Club, which is around 70 kilometers or about a one-hour plus drive from the Olympic Village.
Bianca Pagdanganan, who is still in the United States, and Juvic Pagunsan will also stay in separate hotels near the venue.
EXPLAINER: Golf at Tokyo Olympics
“Golfers from different nations were permitted to stay in official accredited hotels because of the distance of the course from OLV (Olympic Village),” said National Golf Association of the Philippines secretary general Bones Floro.
Floro also said he has already requested the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) to allow Saso to start training on July 24.
The women’s event will take place from August 4 to 7 while men’s action happens earlier from July 29 to August 1.
A total of 60 men and 60 women—based on world rankings—are participating. The 20-year-old Saso, who is ranked No. 9, is strong contender to claim the gold.